Help me raise medical funds for my friend, Kristan Whelihan!

My name is Connie Morgan and I am pleading for your help in raising funds to support my best friend and former preschool co-teacher, Kristan Whelihan, who is battling some very serious health issues. In October, Kristan was diagnosed with breast cancer and then a few weeks later was also diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumor. Kristan and her husband traveled to Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota to seek treatment. The doctors there performed a biopsy, which confirmed that the tumor is located deep within the brain and it is stage four cancer. She is already suffering from significant vision loss due to the tumor’s location. Doctors say the tumor is treatable so she will return to Mayo in January for an indefinite length of time to receive surgery for both cancers. She will need to stay at Mayo post-surgery for extensive radiation and chemo treatments for many weeks. These specialized treatments are not available here locally. Kristan has not been able to work since early November and she has no short or long-term disability through her job, Kristan and her husband, Tom, are both teachers and they have maxed out their sick leave over the years caring for their son who has Tourette syndrome. Their financial needs will include: living expenses here in Columbia for her family since she can no longer work, living expenses at Mayo for the duration of surgery/treatment, travel, expenses, and medical bills.

For many, many years Kristan has given so much love and support to hundreds of our local preschoolers and now it’s time for us to support her during this very difficult time.

Please find it in your heart during this time of giving to help in any way you can. Thank you so much in advance for your support!